A Rare Alliance on Mumbai’s Streets
In a striking show of unity, Shiv Sena (UBT) supremo Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray marched side‑by‑side at a massive gathering in Mumbai. The event, christened the Virat Garjana Morcha, attracted activists from a broad swath of anti‑BJP forces and turned the bustling south‑side corridors into a living forum for a common demand.
Calling for a Freeze on the Special Intensive Revision
At the heart of the demonstration lay opposition to the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Maharashtra. Both Thackerays questioned the opacity of adding and deleting names, warning that the exercise could strip genuine voters of their franchise. Raj Thackeray went a step further, urging the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and reviving his long‑standing plea for a return to paper ballots. Uddhav echoed these points, framing the march as a broader crusade for voter‑rights and transparent elections.
Police Register FIR Over Unauthorised Procession
After the rally dispersed, Mumbai police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the organisers, alleging that the march proceeded without the legally required clearance. The FIR was lodged at the Azad Maidan police station, and officials said further legal action would depend on the findings of their probe into the rally’s logistics.
BJP’s Counter‑Narrative
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) quickly dismissed the protest, arguing that the opposition’s demand to scrap electronic voting machines was baseless. Party spokespeople reminded citizens that all major parties have successfully contested elections using EVMs and portrayed the Thackerays’ demands as a political stunt rather than a genuine reformist agenda.
Looking Ahead
As the state’s voter‑roll overhaul proceeds, the tug‑of‑war between the opposition’s call for a SIR moratorium and the government’s defence of the process is set to sharpen. Expect a flurry of statements and counter‑statements in the coming days, keeping Maharashtra’s electoral reforms in the national spotlight.
